Category Archives: DX

How many X-Class Solar Flares Can Come From One Region?

Posted on October 27, 2014 by robert

Six and counting (along with 17 M-Class Flares): X1.1 10/19 X1.6 10/22 X3.1 10/24 X1.0 10/25 X2.0 10/26 X2.0 10/27 This morning marked the sixth X-Class Solar Flare erupting from Solar Region 2192.  Amazingly enough, none of these flares have produced … Continue reading →

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What a difference a day makes (actually two)…

Posted on October 13, 2014 by robert

One sure fire way to bust the barrier that prevents a bit of LotW activity is to draw a line in the sand and report out your current standings.  I did that two days ago, and today things look a … Continue reading →

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DXCC Update

Posted on October 11, 2014 by robert

Several of my ham buddies (including one at the top of the Honor Roll), have described the DXCC process as easy to get the first 100, then more effort to get the next.  They have warned me that after 200, … Continue reading →

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DXCC Update: 210 Confirmed, 870 Challenge Points

Posted on August 10, 2014 by robert

I dropped off a number of QSL cards that confirmed new countries, or band/mode contacts to the card checkers during the Centennial Convention.  While it took under 5 minutes at the Convention, the Online Application still needed to be processed … Continue reading →

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Bye Bye Solar Cycle 24 ?!?

Posted on July 16, 2014 by robert

Sad but true, as of today, July 16, 2014, the sun is spotless.  The last time that happened was on August 11, 2011.  SolarHam.com even compared the spotless sun to an orange today! You can clearly see the double peak … Continue reading →

Posted in Digital Mode, DX, Operating, Propagation | Leave a comment

When it rains it pours?

Posted on April 15, 2014 by robert

Man its a wet spring with more rain on the way (16+” year-to-date), but I’m not talking about the weather — I’m talking about DXCC Confirmations. Today I finally broke the 200 mark in LotW, with confirmations for QSOs from … Continue reading →

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Mellish Reef DXpedition and DX Summary

Posted on April 7, 2014 by robert

I was very fortunate to work Mellish Reef on 20 Meter CW around 0800Z April 4th.  While there was some discussion about them abandoning the reef due to very bad weather, they were still plugging away.  Propagation charts indicated that … Continue reading →

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Senegal QSL boosts 80m Count to 79

Posted on February 3, 2014 by robert

I received a beautiful QSL from 6V7S, Vlad, in Senegal West Africa today.  I had worked Vlad on 80/40/30/20/15/10 meters (on SSB/CW/RTTY).  This boosts my 80 meter count to 79 confirmed countries, so I need 21 more to complete my … Continue reading →

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Success with Amsterdam Island, FT5ZM

Posted on February 3, 2014 by robert

I’m a bit late in posting this, but I was lucky enough to work FT5ZM about 18 hours after they went on the air.  Since the path from New England is right through the heart of Europe, breaking through is … Continue reading →

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Les, KL7J, Comes Through in a Big Way on 80 Meters

Posted on January 26, 2014 by robert

My journey to 5BWAS ended at 1050 UTC (5:50 AM Local Time) Jan 26, 2014, when Les Buchholz sent CQ on 3.577.269 MHz.  Six minutes later, signal levels of -14 and -16 were exchanged and confirmed, and 73 send round … Continue reading →

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